Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-02-16
&eading.
WILLARD FILLMORE'S LAST YEARS.

60 0 u
MlLLARD FILLM0RE'S LAST YEARS.
Since the elevation of Grover Cleveland
to the Presidency Buffalo prides herself
uson being political center of importance.
Why not? 1t is no small thing in po-
litical way to have q personal acquaint-
ance with the President of the United
States, and nearly everybody who amounts
to anything in Buffalo knew Grover Cleve-
land. Yet it is not new experience for
Buffalo to have one of her citizens Pres
ident. Redpath tells you that Millard
Fillmore was Of New York, but history is
too general; Fillmore was of Buffalo.
Millard Fillmore was originally an OBJ
scure lawyer of the village of Aurora, Erie
county, but subsequently came to Buffalo.
He gradually became prominent in his
profession, and from the first acted with
the Whig party. He was sent to Congress,
and when the Office of State Comptroller
was made elective he was nominated for
it, and was tho first comptroller chosen
by the people. While holding that Office
he was nominated for Vice-President on
the ticket headed by General Zachary
to the split in the Democratic party by
the Free Soil movement. Mr.. Fillmore
entered upon the duties of his new Office
on the 4th of March, 1S49, and by the
death of President Taylor in July, 1850,
became President of the United States.
Here 1 may mention a curious coinci.
dence. When Tyler succeeded Harri-
son in 1841 Mr.. Fillmore was in Con-
gress. A debate arose over Tyler's title;
Whether he should be called acting pres
ident upon the death of a president, or
what not. 1t was strongly argued that he
could not constitutionally become Presi
dent; that there must be distinction.
Finally the opinion prevailed that he
should hold the same title as if elected to
the office. Mr.. Fillmore took strong
ground in support of this view, little
dreaming that he would be the second to
be promoted to the Presidency in this
way.
The events of his administration are
of the history of the country. After his
retirement from office in March, 1858, Mr..
Fillmore madean extended European trip,
and had not returned in 1S56-the year of
the Buchannan-Fremontc campaign-when
he was notified that he had been nomi-
mated for President by the Amrican Know
Nothing party. Maryland was the only
State of the Union to give him her electo-
raj votes.
1t is not polite in these days to talk of
Know Nothingism. Millard Fillmore was
a Whig, and had little confidence in his
election by the American party. When
his Buffalo friends gave him serenade
upon his return from Europe, he made a
brief speech accepting the nomination.
'These words" shouted friend from be-
low, Twill make you President of the
United States" The answer-"1 hope so,
sir, most sincerely"-Was made the cam
paign cry of the Democrats and Free Soil
ers of Buffalo.
AS eX-President, Mr.. Fillmore contract
ed second marriage, his choice being the
wealthy widow of one of the opposition
candidates purse holders. The contract of
the marriage was drawn up by Nathan K:
friend. It related, of course, to the second
Mrs. Fillmore's personal estate.
After the termination of the presidential
contest Mr. Fillmore lived here in retire
ment, and was thoroughly esteemed by
citizens regardless of party. He died in
1874, and was buried at Fort Lawn ceme-
tery. He was of commanding presence,
and, as one of his friends described him to
me recently, a man few persons could pass
on the street without turning to look back
at. There was that about his gentle dig
nifty that secured respect from unexpected
sources, and few citizens met him out for
q morning walk who did not lift their
hats as a natural token of Difference. He
was, notwithstanding his reserve, always
ready to take part in any public event.
The Fillmore mansion was one of the
handsomest of palatial residences of Mag
ara square. 1t is now known as the Fill
more, but has degenerated to fashionable
boarding house. The landladies are SIS
tiers of celebrated turtle Of Coney island.
Mrs. Fillmore died few years ago, max
ing liberal bequests to the Buffalo Fine
Arts Academy, the Buffalo Historical So
ciety, and local charities. Her private
library was given intact to the Historical
Society," Every volume contains her au-
tograph. One of the park approaches,
Fillmore avenue, was named in honor OF
the departed x-President, and the city is
taking good care of it, having during the
last season paved it with asphalt at cost
of $4,000.
Mr.. Fillmore was not considered bril-
liant man; but he was cosidered deep,
sound and logical. One of his chief local
political opponents was we'll known
local character of that day, whom l will
call Jones. 1t is related that their great
est word duel took place in church at
Abbott's Corners, being hotly contested
for six hours. DR.. L. P. Dayton, who is
a personal friend to the present occupant
of the White House, heard it, and his idea
was that Jones, on account of his remark
able brilliancy, got the better Of the argu-
ment. DR.. Dayton told me story about
Jones which should he preserved. In the
early days Buffalo's largest hall was the
old court house on Lafayette square. A
noted Temperance orator from Albany was
advertised to address mass meeting in
the afternoon, but failed to arrive. The
only nan the committee could think OF
who was equal to the emergency was this
same Jones. They found him in his Of
flee lying on couch, engaged in rubbing
out of his head the effects of the previous
nights hiarity. When the case was eX-
planned he poured out and swallowed
glass Of brandy, and, leaning on the arms
of his friends, made his way to the nall.
For the first hour he dared not trust him
self to loose his grasp on the speakers
table. But such was the power OF his elo-
ouence that after he had done speaking
1900 persons signed the pledge. 1t is not
related whether the speaker signed or not.
The late eX-President's son, Millard +.
Fillmore, resides in Buffalo, and belongs
to Tiff House Bachelors club. President
Cleveland and Cousin Ben. Folsom were
both members of this club, and neither
ever comes to Buffalo that he does not re-
new the old associations connected there
with. Powers Fillmore, as he is familiar
ly known, is man over 30 years of age,
and is said to be possessed of fortune
ample for all his needs. He does not prac-
tice law now, but President Cleveland,
who undoubtedly knows him better than
any one else, has often said that ne pos
sesses one of the brightest legal minds he
has ever known.
Mr., Fillmore is a man who lives on old
associations, and of the hundreds who pass